The Revolutionary Workers Party of Bangladesh on Tuesday expressed the position that the next Jatiya Sangsad should approve the major reforms for implementation on the basis of a consensus-based national charter.
During a dialogue with the National Consensus Commission, the party leaders demanded that the constitutional name of the country and the fundamental principles of the existing constitution should remain unchanged. However, the party agreed to the proposed inclusion of equality, human dignity, and social justice as聽 the constitution鈥檚 fundamental principles.
The party leaders strongly opposed holding local government elections before the national elections, warning that it would intensify political conflicts.
Talking to journalists after the dialogue between the party and the NCC, at the LD Hall of the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban in the capital Dhaka, the party general secretary Saiful Huq said his party opposed rotational reservation of 100 women seats in a proposed bicameral parliament and the inclusion of the president and the chief justice in a national constitutional council.
In earlier dialogues with the NCC, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party recommended reinstating the fundamental principles as were inserted after the fifth constitutional amendment. The BNP, however, supported equality, human dignity, and social justice as the new fundamental principles.
The existing constitution鈥檚 fundamental principles are nationalism, socialism, democracy, and secularism.
The Fifth Amendment in April 1979 adopted 鈥榓bsolute trust and faith in Almighty Allah鈥� replacing 鈥榮ecularism鈥� and redefined 鈥榮ocialism鈥� as 鈥榚conomic and social justice鈥�.
In contrast to the BNP鈥檚 position, the RWPB leader Saiful said that 鈥榮ecularism鈥� must remain in the constitution as this is one of the basic characteristics of a modern democratic country.
Saiful said his party, echoing citizens鈥� long-standing demand for free and fair national elections, urged the NCC to expedite dialogues with political parties, finalise the national charter within the next one and a half months, and facilitate a smooth path to the next national polls by December this year.
Responding to questions about how to ensure the ruling party or parties of the next JS will implement the charter, Saiful said his party, along with its allies in the Ganatantra Mancha and the BNP, remain committed to the 31-point state reform agenda.
鈥楾he ongoing reform initiatives have made the Mancha鈥檚 work easier. Now, the parties participating in the NCC dialogues must commit to implementing the signed national charter,鈥� he said.
The Ganatantra Mancha was formed in August 2022 comprising the RWPB, Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal-JSD, Nagorik Oikya, Gana Adhikar Parishad, Bhasani Anusari Parishad, Rashtra Sangskar Andolan, and Ganosamhati Andolan.
In November 2022, the Mancha and the BNP reached a consensus to work jointly towards unseating the ruling Awami League and enacting state reforms.
During the dialogue, Saiful said the RWPB recommended establishing an anti-discrimination commission and ensuring constitutional safeguards for democratic rights under all circumstances.
The party also strongly advocated for strict measures to curb the use of black money in elections.
While the RWPB鈥檚 proposal to amend the Article 70 by limiting lawmakers鈥� floor-crossing on money bills and no-confidence motions aligned with recommendations by the BNP and most other parties, Saiful noted his party did not support adding 鈥榥ational security鈥� to the list of restricted debate topics.
The 31-point reform agenda, primarily spearheaded by the BNP, proposes amending the Article 70 to permit parliamentary debates on all issues except money bills, votes of confidence, constitutional amendments, and national security.
Saiful added that his party would require another session with the NCC to complete its talks on recommendations.
Beginning on March 20, the NCC held dialogues with 21 one parties till Tuesday.